Housesteads Roman Fort

Housesteads (Roman Vercovicium) was built in stone around AD 124 as a fort on Hadrian’s Wall and was occupied for almost 300 years. From AD 205 or 208 the Cohors I Tungrorum was stationed here. You can see the perimeter wall, headquarters building, commander’s house, barracks, granaries, hospital and the stone latrine, one of the best preserved in Roman Britain. A civilian settlement lay to the south. The fort is regarded as one of the best preserved along the Wall; it belongs to the National Trust and is cared for by English Heritage.

From the car park, a grass path climbs briefly to the museum and the fort. From the north side you look across the Wall into the barbaricum, the land beyond the frontier. If you want to walk, the National Trust describes a circuit from Housesteads to Steel Rigg of about 12.8 km, taking around three hours. Opening times change with the season.